A town in Clydesdale, Wishaw lies 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Motherwell and 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Glasgow. Built on the line of a Roman road, the original weaving village of Wishawtoun developed in the 19th and 20th centuries in association with coal mining, iron smelting, whisky distilling and the manufacture of steel, lorries, clocks, rolling stock, sports goods and electronics. In 1920 Motherwell was incorporated with Motherwell as the burgh of Motherwell & Wishaw. The ironworks and steelworks had all closed by 1992. A large number of churches remain in the town centre as well as a railway station. Notable mansion houses nearby include Cambusnethan Priory (1819), Coltness House and Wishaw House, a seat of Lord Belhaven of Biel. The northern suburb of Coltness lies next to the South Calder Water while, across the Coltness Bridge, is the village of Cleland. The suburb of Gowkthrapple was developed in the 1970s. The Wishaw General Hospital opened in 2001. Famous people born in the town include Cardinal Thomas Winning (1925 - 2001) and snooker champion John Higgins (b.1975).
Today there are remnants of Wishaw's industrial past, such as the opencast mines to the southeast.
